Handle attaching device



Oct'. 3l, 944. H, `1 MEKELBURG 2,31,559

HANDLE ATTACHING DEVICE F'iledV 061'.. 28, 1943 Patented Oct. 31., 1944 'Harold L. Mekelburg, Milwaukee, Wis., 'assfignor 'to Cutler-Hammer, nc., Milwaukee, Wis., a

corporation of Delaware Application October 28, 1.943,Seri'aliNo.=508,05l

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved :handle attaching device.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for attaching a rball-type handlev to the hub and shaft of ya drum `controller or the like.

Another object is to provide lfor use of a straight handle, while insuring adequate knuckle space between the ball and the control-lercasing.

Another object is to so form and arrange the handle as to minimize the required length of the hub -member associatedtherewith.

Another object vis -to provide novel Ameans .for rotatably mounting the handle with respect to the hub member and the shaft, whereby 'any tendency toward accidental loosening of the ball with .respect to the handle is avoided.

Another object is lto provide such a device y whose parts may be readily and quickly `assembled,

Another object is toprovide simplemeans cornkmon to the shaft, the hub and the handle for securing .the same in properly assembled relation.

Other objects and advantages of the Ainvent-ion will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention which will no-w be described, it being understood that the' invention is susceptible of embodiment .in `other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

In the'drawing,

Figure Il is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of a drum controller having .my improved ball-type handle attaching device associated therewith.

Fig. r2 is a sectional view, .on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.; the fragment of the handle :being shown .in elevation. y

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view simuar to Fig. 3, but showing a, modified form of my invention. Y

-Referring to the drawing, .the numeral-5-designates the enclosing casing of a drum controller of known form having an operating shaft -6 which extends upwardly beyond the upper end wall lof casing 5. Shaft 6 is preferably of polygonal Vform in transverse cross section, the same beingshown as of hexagonal cross section. Shaft' may be provided with a transverse opening (not shown) to accommodate with a drive t the intermediate portion of a pin l whose projecting ends overlie a ange member -or washer 8 at the upper 'en'd of casing 5 to assist in positioning shaft f6 Awithrespect to said casing.

Shaft '16 fis provided `:at .its upper iend with fa kerf for :slot :9 lwhich preferably extends downwardly :from said fupp'er fend to Aa Lpoint adjacent pin -1, whereby said upperfendz'of'th'e-fshaft lisin the A:form fof two integral, :opposed resilient Ypor-tions I 0 and 'I I.. I .prefer to drill eandtap anppening extend- 'ing vthrong-h Iboth 'of 'the 'shaft -endlpo'rtions -IfIJ ivand 'II., rsa-id open-ing ybeing arranged at :a right angle to ;s1o"t :9., Las indicated :at 1.2 :and I'S.. Positioned within slot i9, :and izprefefr'ablynf "the Jsame width fand :height sas :the latter, but Fof ysubstantial-'ly less thickness .than said slot-is a flat metal plate M, :the purpose of which will 'be hereinafter described.

|25 designates ea rhubmember, preferably formed of rva suitable metal fsuch asrsteel ordnen, the same .having a vvdowtnwardly sopening cylindrical recess v'ITIS which is adapted to slide or telescopeonto the split iupper 'end of shaft `6.. However, prior `to assembly fof .hub Ifmember .1'5 with respect to .shaft i6 'therhandle ro'd Ix'l lis fad'aptedtto be preperlypotsitioned with respect to said :hub member. `For this :purpose a circular opening '=I8 is drilled -or otherwise formed ata 4prexzletermin'ed upward langle within 'one 'wail of .hub member vI5 fadiia- `cent the "upper lend "of the latter, `and a cavity I9 .is .also formed in the. inner-surfaced the roppovsite wall fof :hub #member :If5 in iaxial alinem/ent withsaid opening I8. The portions 20 and .24 Jof handle rod Il .are of like cross sectional dimensions and the same fare, adapted tor-otatably bear within opening t8 :and cavity i9, respectively.

The intermediate portion 2x2 offhanjdle rod Il is machined or otherwise cut ;away to substantially frusto-conical formi-Figs. l and.2) whereby clearance is provided between :the lsame :and the flat or horizontal upper end of shaft 6. The arrangement is such that when hub .member I5 (with handle rod I1 properly .positioned rtherein) is telescoped onto fthe 'upper eend fof shaft 6, the end portion or Harige `v2.I of yhandle rod IFI will voverlap one of the atfside walls ofsaid shaftfend, in the vmannerfbest illustrated :in Fig. .1. yBy reason of this interlock between flange 2l .andishaft I6 outward endwise displacement of handle rod ITI is positively prevented, `whereas the 'assembly -is such as to insure irelativelyfree :rotatability of handlerod YI l -with respect to hub member 1:5 and shaft. s l l l.

`In'order to secure fhub .Il5 and .sha-it '6 `against movement relatively Ito leach other -I prefer .to provide within hub Il a-ci-rcular opening 23'wh`ich :affords clearance rior :a vset screw 224 which takes into Ithe tapped opening `I'3 yin the portionrll. of

T vthe sha-ftend. The 'inner 'end of set lscrew 2'4' is lines at 25.

f handle rod.` V

adapted to abut against plate I4, and upon tightdicator in conjunction with suitable legends upon ening or further inward driving of screw 24 the portions I and II of the shaft end are caused to spread apart to securely clamp or wedge the shaft end against the peripheral wall of recess I6 in hub member I5. More particularly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, such spreading apart of the shaft end portions IIlandI I results in the vertical edges formedbetween the several sidesthereofbiting into or embedding themselves in the peripheral wall of recess I6. The advantages of this arrangement are obvious.

If desired for any reason, the hub member I5, with the handle rod I'I in position, may be assembled with respect to shaft 6 at a rotary angle 180 degrees removed from that shown in Fig. 1. When the parts are so assembled the set screw 24 will be driven into the tapped opening I2 in ther other portion I0 of the shaft end; the end of the screw cooperating with plate I4 in the same manner as aforedescribed to effect spreading of end portions III andII pf shaft 6. Where there is no occasion to provide for such alternate manner of assembling hub member I5 and handle rod I'I with respect to shaft 6, the tapped opening I2 in portion I0 of the shaft end maybe omitted, in which event the end of screw 24 might be permitted toabut directly against the shaft portion I0, for spreading of the same with respect to portion I I; .thus avoiding the necessity for the aforementioned plate I4. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the corresponding parts are given the same numerals of` reference as in Fig. 3; it being noted that the plate I4 of Fig. 3 has been omitted from the device of Fig. 4, 1

and the tapped opening I2 in the portion I0 of the shaft end in Fig. 3 has likewise been yomitted from Fig. 4. If desired a set screw somewhat longer than that shown at 24 in Fig, 4 might be substituted for the latter, as will be obvious.

In practice the outer end of handle rod I'I is reduced vand threaded, as represented by dotted An enlargement, preferably of ball shape and preferablyfcomposed of insulating mate'rial, as indicated at. 26, is provided with a threaded recess for-cooperation with thereduced portion 25 of the handlerod. The ball or knob 26- is preferably screwed very tightly onto said portion 25, and fin practice a layer or coating of cement (not shown) is interposed between the cooperating screw threads to substantially reduce.' the likelihood of accidental loosening of ball 26 with respect to handle rod I'I. Moreover,

"the provision of means affording rotation of handle rod I1 with respect to hub member I5 and i shaft 6 still further reduces the likelihood of accidentalloosening of ball or knob 26 from said AS illustrate-dn Fig. l1 the angular'mounting yof straight handle rod I'I laffords adequate knuckle space between knob 26 and the upper end wall of casing 5, and at the same time the required height or length ofhub member I5 is minimized.y

In practice the hub member I5 is provided with a vertical groove 21 alinedwith the axial center of rod I'I, the walls of said groove having a layer` or coating of paint or the like of a color (such as white) contrasting with the color of hub member I5 for cooperating with suitable legends or indicia.` (notshown) on the upper end wall of casing .5 to assist in indicating the condition of the circuit or circuits controlled by the drum. It is to beunderstood, of course, that the handle rod II is also adaptedto serve as an insaid upper end wall of casing 5.

I claim:

l. In a handle construction, in combination, a shaft, a hollow hub member, said hub member having an opening formed in one side wall thereof, a handle rod having an end portion freely insertable into said hub member through said opening, said hub member being adapted to slidably fit onto one end of said shaft, and means including cooperatively engaging shoulders formed on said shaft and said rod to provide a positive interlocking connection therebetween upon assembly of said hub member and said rod with respect to said shaft, whereby endwise displacement of said rod from said hub member is positively prevented.

2. liny a handle construction, in combination, a shaft, a hollow metal hub member, said hub member having a circular opening formed in one side wall thereof, the axis of said opening extending upwardly at an angle substantially greater than a right angle with respect to the vertical plane of said side wall, a straight metal handle rod of circular cross section freely insertable into said hub member through said opening, said yhandle rod having a shoulderedA inner end engageable with the side of said shaft remote from said opening to positively prevent endwise displacement of said rod upon telescoping of said hub member onto said shaft, and associated means for securing said hub member and said shaft against movement relatively to each other.

3. In a handle construction, in combination, a shaft, a hollow metal' hub member, said -hub member having a circular opening formed in one side wall thereof, the axis of said opening extending upwardly at an angle substantially greater than a right angle with respect to the vertical plane of said hub wall, a straight metal handle rod of circular cross section freely insertable into said hub member through said opening, said rod having a shouldered inner end engageable with the side of said shaft remote from said opening to positively prevent edwise displacement of said rod upon telescoping of said hub member onto said shaft, associated means for securing said hub member and said shaft against movement relatively to each other, said last mentioned means including a pair of opposed resilient portions at the upper end of said shaft, a metal plate positioned between said resilient portions, at least' one of said resilient portions having a tapped opening formed therein, Vsaid vhub member having an opening alined with said tapped opening, and a'set screw threaded into said tapped opening, the inner end of said set screw being engageable with said plate to cause expansion of said upper end of the shaft whereby the latter and said hub member are'restrained against movement relatively to eachother.

4. In a handle Iconstruction, in combination, a shaft, a hollow metal hub member, said hub member having an opening formed in one side wall thereof, a handle rod having an end portion freely insertable into said hub member through said opening, said hub member being 'adapted to slidably t onto one end of said shaft,

acentos :such thatsaid rodlis freeto'rotate upon its-own :axis :with respect Ito said 'hub imember and `said .shaftafter such assembly.

l f5. In a handle construction, 2in combination, a fshaft, a hollow metal hub member, :said lhub member having an opening formed in Ione -side wall thereof, a straight handle rod having fan ,end vportion lfreely .insertable into said hub mem- ',ber through said opening, said hub member 'bering zadapted to slidably fit `onto one end of said 1 shaft, means includinga shoulder formed on-said `shaft and a cooperatively engaging annular rshoulder formed on said rod tocprovide a rotatable interlocking connection therebetween upon threaded zouter end, and a -knob having -a .threaded lrecess to provide for removable securement thereof to said .threaded end, said rod being also .rotatable within said hub opening vwhereby accidental .unthreading of said .knob from said rod vis prevented.

.6. .In a device of the character described, in?,

combination, a recessed metal hub member, lsaid hub :memberhaving an opening `formed Yin 'one side wall thereof, a handle rod having an end portion freely insertable through said opening into the hub recess, a shaft, said hub member and rod being assembled as a unit with respect to the end of said shaft, and said rod having an annularly shouldered part thereof in interlocking engagement with one side of said shaft end as an incident to such assembly, whereby outward displacement of said rod with respect to said hub member is positively prevented.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a recessed hub member,

Y said hub member having a circular opening formed in one side wall thereof, a handle rod having an annularly shouldered end portion freely insertable through said opening into the hub recess,bsaid hub member and rod being assembled as a unit with respect tok one end of said shaft, said annularly shouldered end portion of said rod being adapted for positive interlocking engagement with one side of said shaft end as an incident to such assembly, whereby outward displacement of said rod with respect to said hub member is positively prevented, and said parts being so assembled that said rod is freely rotatable upon its own axis with respect to said hub -member and said shaft end, for `the purpose set forth.

8. In a handle construction, in combination, a metal shaft, a hollow metal hub member, said hub member having a circular opening formed in one sidewall adjacent the upper end thereof, said hub member also having a recess'formed in the innerk surface of the opposite side wall thereof and alined with said opening, a handle rod of circular cross section having portions of normal size respectively rotatably positioned within said wall recess and said wall opening with a portion of reduced size therebetween, said hub member being adapted to iit onto one end of said shaft whereby said shaft end cooperates with said rod portions of normal and reduced size to prevent substantial outward movement of said rod relatively to said hub member while providing for rotary movement of said rod relatively to said hub member, and associated means for securing said hub member and said shaft end against movement relatively to each other.

i9. fIn :a ihandle .'construction, `:in combination',oa metal shaft, Va hollow ymetal :hub member, :said

.hub lmember having a ycircularopening Aformed .inione side wall adjacent-,the .upper end thereof, A.said .hub member :also `having :a recess formed .in .the .inner :surface ofthe opposite side `wall there- ,of 4Vand :alined :with said opening, a handle .rod .of :circular cross section having portions .of normal ,size :respectively .rotatably positionedfwithinsaid v-.vva'll `recess, and said ywall opening .with ;a portion of reducedsize therebetween, .said hub lmember beingadapted to -tfonto oneend ofrsaid shaft `whereby .said shaft end cooperates with `said yrod portions of .normal and reduced size to :prevent substantial outward movement tof .said

rod relatively to said hub member while .providing 1.for .rotary movement of said rod relatively .to .said ,hub member, associated means y.for sey curing :said hub member .and said shaft rend against movement :relatively to each other, .said

:handle rod `having a reduced and .threadedouter end portion,,and a knob havinga threaded recess .for `cooperation with said threaded end portion, the rotatable mounting of said rod insuring @against accidental vunthreading .of said knob therefrom.

10. .In `a handle construction, in combination, `ashaft of polygonal form in Vtransverse cross section, said shaft having a slot extending inwardly a substantial distance from the outer end thereof to provide a pair of opposed resilient end portions, a metal hub member having a, downwardly opening cylindrical recess for telescoping thereof onto said opposed end portions, at least one of said end portions having a tapped opening formed therein at substantially a right angle to said slot, said hub member having a clearance opening registerable with said tap-ped opening, a set screw freely insertable through said clearance opening and threaded into said tapped opening, the inner end of said set screw acting within said slot to effect spreading of said opposed end portions, whereby the edges formed by the peripheral sides of said shaft will be forced into the cylindrical wall of said hub recess to thereby preventmovement of said hub member relatively to said shaft, said hub member having a second o-pening formed therein adjacent the upper end of said cylindrical recess, and a handle rod having an inner shouldered end overlapping one side of said shaft and an intermediate portion overlying the upper end of said shaft in close proximity thereto, said rod being rotatable within said second opening but being restrained by said shouldered end against substantial endwise displacement with respect to said shaft.

11. In a handle construction, in combination, a metal shaft of polygonal form in transverse cross section, said shaft having a slot extending inwardly a substantial distance from the outer end thereof to provide a pair ofopposed resilient end portions, a metal hub member having a downwardly opening cylindrical recess for hub recess to thereby preventvrotary or longitudinalmovement of said hub member relatively to said shaft, said hub member having a second opening formed therein adjacent the upper end Aof said cylindrical recess, a handle rod having an-inner shouldered end overlapping one side of said shaft and an intermediate portion overlying the upper end of said shaft in close proximity thereto, said rod being rotatable within said second opening butl being restrained by said shouly ,dered end against substantial outward displace- .ment with respect to said shaft, said rod having a, reduced and threaded outer kend portion, and a molded insulating ball having threaded and cemented engagement with the outer end portion of said rod.

.12. In a handle construction, in combination, a metal shaft of polygonal form in transverse cross section, said shaft having a slot extending inwardly a substantial .distance from the outer end thereof to provide a pair of opposed resilient end portions, said end portions having alined tapped openings formed therein at substantially.

right angles to said slot, a metal plate positioned within said slot and adapted to overlie the inner ends of said alined openings, a, metal. hub' member having a downwardly opening cylindrical recess for telescoping `thereof onto said opposed end portions, said hubk member having a elear- V.fascinante ance opening registerable with one or the other of said alined openings, a, set screw insertable through said clearance opening and threaded into the tapped opening adjacent thereto, the inner end of said set screw acting against the plate lWithin said slotI to effect spreading of said op- 'posed end portions, whereby the edges formed by the peripheral sides of said shaft will be forced into thecylindrical Wall of said hub recess to' thereby -prevent movement-of said hub member relatively to said shaft, said hub member having saidcavity and overlapping one side of said shaft and an intermediate portion of frusto-conical shape overlying the upper end of said shaft, said rod being rotatable with respect to said hub member but being restrained by said shouldered end against substantial outward displacement with respect thereto, and an enlargement removably attached to the outer end of said rod.

HAROLD L. MEKELBURG. 

